Automatic safety-switch



L t e e h s u e e h s 2 H 0 a N In E TP UM H I EM M 0 AT U (No Model.)

No. 496,611. Patented May 2, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADELBERT E. HUTCHINS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,611, dated May 2, 1893. Application filed December 22, 1892. Serial No. 456,067- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADELBERT E. HUTOH- INS, of Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Safety Apparatus for Connection with Electric Conductors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with the lines or conductors of the various systems of electrical distribution principally thosewherein a deadly or dangerous current is employed, and the most prominent object of my invention is to render any of the said systems incapable of causing damage by reason of the breaking or sagging of a wire or wires and the transfer through the disarranged part of an electric current to or through any object which may be impinged upon-or in other words to instantly and automatically render all the damaged part perfectly harmless so far as any current through it is concerned.

Subordinate objects are to provide a simple, cheap and efficient apparatus which in addition to the above named purpose will prevent the damaged part from intercepting the current through the remaining portions of the line,--which will automatically turn in an alarm or signal (if required) to the main station, or if necessary interrupt the current there,

which is applicable in connectioirwith all theprevalent systems of wiring, whether of one or various styles,-and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction, operation or use and adaptability, as will be herein first fully described and then the particulars of the invention be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings I have represented at Figure 1 an elevation of one of myimproved devices as it appears when used in connection with a trolley wire, the wire being represented as broken or damaged at one part and the apparatus brought into position to perform its desired offices. In this representation the trolley wire is only employed as an example. Any other conductor may be likewise protected. Fig. 2 is a section of a fragment showing the push button in its normal open position. Fig. 3 is a skeleton view representing some of the applications of my invention and serving to facilitate an understanding of its general operation and use. I

In all the figures like numerals and reference letters wherever they occur are employed to indicate corresponding parts.

Wires and cables suspended in mid air in various ways and for various purposes requiring dangerous electrical currents are becoming more and more common and apparently increase most rapidly in the most populous sections. These wires become broken or too slack, which interferes in various ways with their normal use, but especially are they then liable to come in contact with persons or animals. or objects, transferring a deadly or dangerous or damaging current, as is of daily occurrence,and the importance of preventing these occurrences must be apparent. To prevent the damage to one section of the line from destroying the efficiency of remaining portions, and to automatically return a current through the main station (which may be employed to accomplish any desired work) will commend itself as of importance to those familiar with electric lighting, heating, car service and analogous industries. At points between which it is desired to protect the line, as many points as desired, the more the better, I erect my apparatus and connect it with the line.

Of the apparatus A represents a support which may be of any size and shape and secured in any way. The line or wire BB (see Fig.1) is connected with pivoted arms 0 O which, when in place for use, conduct the current the same as if they were a portion of the line. Springs as O O normally draw the arms against the tension of the line, which tension ordinarily keeps the arms in working position. The instant that the tension is released by the breaking or sagging of the wire, as on the right of Fig. 1, then the corresponding spring 0' draws the connected arm 0 back and destroys the electric connection through struction of the electric connection through it. Thus as soon as the wire breaks or sags it is electrically disconnected from other portions of the line, and this at both ends'of the damaged portion, so that it is rendered entirely harmless, or is killed as it is commonly expressed. The springs O are made of sufficient strength, according to the length of the protected section between the instruments, to avoid the possibility of the weight of the damaged portion holding the arms in place against the strength of the spring. The arms 0 are bifurcated at their upper ends, as indicated, and so fashioned as to interlock with the other pivoted arms D to hold the latter down when the arms are in position to allow the current to pass through. Aspring D operates to quickly carry arms D up or around their pivots as soon as they are released. In being thus released and then forced to turn upwardly they each pass over a push button E, of any suitable construction, closing that button, which completes a circuit to the station or elsewhere and thus causes an alarm to be given, or causes other work, as the cutting off of the main current, to be performed. This communication between the apparatus and the station is effected through an auxiliary wire, sections of which are indicated at E E E The auxiliary line is completed through the push button by latches or like devices, as E E, which latches may, if desired, be locked out of contact with the push button by pins, as at E", as when no signal is to be given. It is immaterial under what system the line B may be fed. It may be fed directly, in which case the remaining portions of the apparatus need not be considered except when employed for the purpose of establishing a course over which the current may pass the broken or damaged section and thus serve the remaining portions of the line.

F F is still another set of pivoted arms, with which the arms D, when raised, may interlock in a manner to form an electric connec tion. If these are not required they may be keyed up and out of the paths of arms D, as indicated by the dotted lines on the right of Fig. 1, employing pins, as F, supplied for the purpose. Suppose the line B to be fed by branches from a main conductor, then damage to a portion of line B, between two branches, will not of itself interrupt all communication with the balance of the system; but on the other hand if the line be fed directly, it becomes desirable to provide for the passage of the currcntbeyond the damaged part. To accomplish this I may employ what I term an idle wire, in case no other wire is convenient of access. I connect the idle wire with the apparatus at a point, as G, upon the plate upon which arms F are mounted and with which they are in electric connection. As soon as arms D connect with arms F (which occurs at the instant of breakage or damage) then communication for the currentis established through the connected arms and through the idle wire around the damaged section, as will be apparent, leaving the remaining portions safe against the disturbance.

In the first division of Fig. 3 the line B is fed by branches B from a main line, as B leading to binding posts, as 00, and thence communicating with arms 0. The armsF in this section are not required, and are therefore keyed up as indicated. Breakage of the line in this division causes the connected arms (1 to fall or recede and the corresponding arms D to rise, the current through line 13 passing the broken section and proceeding on to the balance of the system.

In the second division of Fig. 3 the line B, continued from first division for convenience, is fed directly. In this case an idle wire B is employed, the same being connected with arms F, shown in working position. A

break in this division, or a sag or both, as at 1 and 2, causes the arms to assume the positions indicated. The current will follow line B to the apparatus at the left of 2, pass on wire B to the apparatus at the right of 1 and thence on to the balance of the system leaving the damaged parts 1 and 2 perfectly harmless.

From the second division of Fig. 3 the line B continues to the third division in' which it may be a direct feeder, and in which it may be desired to employ the improved apparatus only to render any breakage harmless, the idle wire being then omitted, as indicated.

From a consideration of the foregoing the construction, operation and general application of the improved apparatus will be understood.

It is frequently desirable to repair or change portions of the line and in such cases the apparatus may be set by hand to disunite all that part of the line which is being worked upon-with manifest advantages to the work men.

In Fig. 1 the sections 0 over which the trolley may pass, are hinged to the transfer arms 0, or to thelower jointed sections thereof, and are each supplied with springs, as at O to throw them down whenever the trans fer arms are released. These sections 0 are sustained ordinarily by engagement with sta tionary hooks as (J from which they are released by being carried forward by the movement of arms 0. If allowed to remain in place a current might pass from one to the other and thus prevent the desired killing of the damaged line-section B. The springs (l are employed to insure against the possibility of the parts binding by rust or otherwise. The insulated wheel 0 is located in the line between the hinged sections 0 so that when the latter are forced forward or toward the center they will come in contact with the wheel and thus be crowded in an inward direction and the hinge joints loosened so that the springs C will be enabled to perform their offices.

The upper and lower sections of arms .0 are connected by flexible pieces 0 which transfer a portion of the weight of the lower section to the upper so as to assist the movement of the arm in the direction desired-and being flexible these connecting pieces will bend to admit of the movement of the upper part of the arm in cases in which the lower part is prevented from swinging down, as when the wire simply sags a little but enough to release the arm, or as when no sagging occurs, but the tension is merely diminished.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character herein set forth, the combination, with the arms which are pivoted intermediate of their ends and attached to the electric conductor, of a second set of arms pivoted independently of the first set, upon asingle pivot, movable in the same plane as the first set and held normally in electric contact with the first set by the tension of the conductor, said second set of arms being arranged to turn upon their pivots as soon as disengaged from the first set and to transfer the current to the undisturbed portions of the conductor, substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. In an apparatus of the character herein specified, the combination with the two sets of independently pivoted arms, one of the sets of said arms being pivoted intermediate of their ends and the other set mounted upon other at the times and in the manner described.

3. In an apparatus of the character herein set forth, the combination with the pivoted arms 0 and D, arranged to be held in electric contact as explained, of the arms F connected with an idle wire and adapted to transfer the current from arms 0 through arms D to said idle wire, substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the character herein set forth, the combination with arms D interlocking with arms 0 and normally held in working position thereby, of push buttons for closing an auxiliary circuit, said push buttons being located in the paths of arms D and arranged to be closed by said arms when the latter are released, substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ADELBERT E. HUTCHINS.

Witnesses:

- W. J. MORGAN,

WORTH Oseoon. 

